All living things are on Earth are carbon based life forms, carbon is the essential element for all living things.

On Earth, inorganic carbon (CO2) can be found:

1. in the atmosphere.
2. dissolved in oceans.

Organic carbon is found in only one place:

1. as part of the bodies that are living things.

Cycling

Autotrophs:

– conduct photosynthesis; use light energy from the sun and water from the soil or ocean to combine CO2 into complex organic molecules

6 CO2 + 6H2O + light energy -> C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6 O2

– includes land and aquatic plants, algae and some bacteria

All living things:

– perform cellular respiration, which converts glucose into CO2 and H2O molecules

C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6 O2 -> 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy for cell

Complementary Processes

– the carbon that they use is repeatedly cycled through both processes
– this cycling of carbon is called the Carbon Cycle

Carbon Reservoirs

Reservoirs of Inorganic Carbon:

– atmosphere (CO2 gas; 0.03%)
– oceans (dissolved in water or part of the shells of living things)
– Earth’s crust (rocks)

Reservoirs of Organic Carbon:

– bodies of living things (released by decomposers when organism dies)
– bogs (little decomposition; form coal)
– ocean floors (little decomposition; form oil)

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maryum
maryum
10 years ago

This has kinda helped, however i need more info
on it how the cycle is actually worked.

please give more info if possible

Science Teacher
Science Teacher
11 years ago

Good info – picture needs chemical formula correction.

Co is cobalt – should be CO2 for carbon dioxide as in text
(subscript 2 correct – often done wrong as superscript)

Haider
Haider
12 years ago

Kinda helpful…

Dinesh Molavade
Dinesh Molavade
12 years ago

Excellent, concise and easy to understand, however little more details will be useful.